Modeling of root water uptake under drought and saline conditions

Drought and salinity negatively affect root nutrients uptake and consequently decrease yield. Adequate soil management under such conditions involves the use of silicate fertilizers for enhancing soil physical and plantation properties. A split- split plot experiment was conducted in Oraby Village, Maryout area, Alexandria to obsess the effectof silicon as a beneficial nutrient element on winter wheat especially under combined salinity and drought stresses. Results revealed positive response functions of silicon foliar application to root calcium, potassium, magnesium, nitrogen and silicon uptake but the opposite is true for sodium. The positive interaction between the two indices of stress, plant and soil, shaked down the limits of actual stress plants¿ roots bear from lag phase until disappear. This due to the positive response of plant after silicon foliar application. Yield and plantation properties were maintained with silicon foliar application especially under environmental stress condition. Computer models such as HYDRUS- 1D are very important softwares used for analysing site specific management problems such as drought and salinization.